Electric switch



July 10, 1934.y

A. c. GAYNoR ELECTRIYC SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 30. 1929 IN V EN TOR:

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 30, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR.

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7 a closed chamber is provided Patented July '10, 1934 NlTED STATES PATENT OFFCE Tins invention relates to electric switches, and more particularly to improvementsin so-called iced-through and pendant snap switches.

in object oi the present invention is to improve and simplify the structure and assemblyoi switches ci the above character and to facilitate their operation and the wiring of the same.

.a feature or" this invention. is the provision of a casing divided to forni two separable parts, one of the parts containing the switch mechanism and the other the switch contacts when the parts are separated so that, in wiring the switch, the mechanism will not interfere or be in the way.

A iurtherieature oi the present invention is the provision oi a casing divided longitudinally to form two parts, each of which is provided with a channel so that, when these two parts of the casing are secured together, the channels conjointly form a passage for the through-wire of the electric cord which is adapted to be sandwiched between the two parts.

A still further feature oi this invention is the provision ci channels in the two parts of the casing so that, when the parts are secured together, for the switch biades, thereby protecting the wires and switch blades from rubbing together and preventing the wire from interfering with the proper operation thereof.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, which show one form of the invention, that at present preierred- Figure 1 is a perspective view oi the switch of the present invention, showing it employed as a reed-through switch.

Fig. 2 is a similar View, showing the switch employed as a vpendant switch.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, but shows the other side oi the switch.

Fig. l is a sectional view taken along the line Ll--d oi Fig. 8, showing the tortuous passage for the through-wire, as is also indicated by the line 1 -1i oi Fig. i'. Fig. 'i showing the two switch parts assembled.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through a point midway between the ends of a switch.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken through the center line of the switch and showing the two parts oi the casing separated.

Fig. I is a plan view of what will be termed the top part oi the casing, showing the switch mechanism which it carries with it when the parts are separated.

Fig. 8` is a view similar to Fig. '7, but showing the other and bottom part ci the casing with the contacts and binding posts which it carries with it when the parts of the casing are separated. V

Fig. 9 is a plan view ci one .part oi the casing, il@ showing it wired as a pendant.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the casing 10 for the switch is of such size and proportion as to be easily grasped in the hand of the user, and it is divided longitudinally, preferably along a central line, so as to form two parts 11 and l2 which are separable and which are held together normally by screws 13 carried by the part 12 cooperating with threaded sleeves 1d einbedded in the part 11, see Figs..6 and 7. The 'i0 screws 13 have slotted heads accessible from the exterior of the casing, see Fig. 3, by means of which the screws may be tightened or loosened to secure the parts together or to permit their separation.

The casing is adapted to sandwich between two parts thereof the wires ci an electric cord ing cluded in a circuit controlled by the switch. When the device of the present invention is used as a feed-through switch, the wires 14 and 15 pass into one open end oi neclr 16 ci the casing and out through the other open end or necir 16 at the other end of the casing, as shown in Fig.' 1. 'However, when the switch is used as a pendant, the wires 14 and 15 enter the open end 16 of the cas- Q5 ing and terminate within the casing, the other end 16 of the casing being closed by a nial 17, i see Figs. 2, 3 and 6, 'which has e. flange 18 adapted to be locked in an annular internal groove 19 pro vided in the nech 16 when the two parts of the casing are secured together.

When used as a feed-through switch, the wire 14f, which will be considered as the through-Wire, passes unbroken through the switch casing, as shown in Fig. 4l, while the wire 15 is out and one end is fastened under a binding screw y2G while the other end is fastened under a binding screw 2i. see Figs. 6 and 8. Iihese binding screws are threaded in posts 22 embedded in the part 12 oi the casing and are securely fastened to switch contacts 23 and 2d located at opposite ends of the casing and diametrically opposite eachother.

In order to completely isolate the through-wire 14 from the switch mechanism which will later be described, each of the parts 11 and 12 of the casing is provided with a channel 25 leading from one neck 16 to the other so that, when the two parts are secured together, a complete conduit or passage 26 is provided for the through-wire 1d, and thus danger or the wire being chafed by the mechanism of the switch or interfering with the latter is avoided.

Even when the switchis used as a pendant, the through-wire 14 passes through the conduit 26, but instead of emerging from the end 16, which is to be closed by the nial 17, it is led around a dividing boss o'r barrier-27 and its end is secured under the binding screw 21, as shown in Fig. 9. Under these conditions, the wire 15 terminates at the binding screw 20.

It will be noted that when no other means are provided, any pull on the switch would have to be restrained by the end of the Wire which is wrapped around the binding screw 20, in case the switch is used as a pendant, or either the binding post 20 or the binding post 21, according to the direction of the pull, when the switch is used as a feed-through switch.

In order to avoid this and so that the casing is held firmly tothe cord, the channels 25in the parts 11 and 12 of the casing are provided with ribs 28 which are so arranged that, when thetwo parts are secured together, the ribs 28 will be in staggered relation, as shown in Fig. 4, thus causing the through-wire 14 to follow a tortuous -course through the channel 26, and binding against the edges of the ribs oifer resistance to any tendency for the casing and through-Wire 14 to move relatively. This is an important feature of the invention, for it obviates the necessity of knotting the wires or using other similar expedients for relieving the strain upon the wire ends, as is common in the art.

It should be noted at this point that the parts 11 and 12 are provided with channels 30 at the side ofthe barriers 27 opposite the channels 25, so that when the parts are secured together the ends of the wire l5 will be isolated from the through-wire 14, and the barrier will prevent contact of the wire ends with the through wire.

'I'he gap between the contacts 23 and 24.is either closed or opened by switch blades 30 forming part of the switch mechanism. Preferably, these switch blades are of the type disclosed in my Patent #1,821,180, granted September 1, 1931. These switch blades are carried by a laterally extending arm 31 of a crank 32 fulcrumed in a frame 33 so as to oscillate between limits of 'movement when an expansion spring 34 carried in a seat 35 at the lower end of the crank vis moved by a rocker 36 engaging the upper end of the spring past the axis of oscillation of the crank, see Figs. 5 and 6. The rocker 36 is mounted on an axle 37 and has an arm 38 engaging the upper end of the spring 34, so that when the rocker is swung from one position of rest to another, it compresses the spring 34 as it moves the upper end thereof longitudinally of the switch and across the axis of oscillation of the crank. At this time, the spring 34 being free to do so, expands and the power stored therein by the initial movement causes the crank to oscillate from one position of rest to the other and the rocker to complete its oscillatory movement. The rocker 36is`secured to a handle 39, referred to more specifically below, by means of which it may be rocked to c 'ause the switch blades to either straddle or bridge the contacts 23 and 24 in which position the circuit is closed, or to move away from the contacts to' open the circuit. Preferably, the switch unit of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 1,852,772,

'granted April 5, 1932.

The frame 33, in which the moving parts of the switch mechanism are mounted, comprisesV a polyhedral box-like structure having side walls 40 and end walls 41, and has pairs of stop shoulders 42 and 43 for limiting the oscillatory movement vof the crank 32 and rocker 36 respectively. This frame 33 holds the moving parts of the switch mechanism together as a separate entityV which may be taken from the switch for repairs or adjustment if needed. The frame fits in pockets 44 and 45 in the parts 11'and 12 respective- 1y, and these pockets are of such size and shape as to permit the crank, rocker and handle to oscillate without interference with the casing.

In order to facilitate the wiring of the switch, the present invention provides for the switch mechanism being carried by the cover or top part ll'of the casing, so that it will be out of the way While the wire ends are being twisted around the binding screws 20 and 21. To accomplish this, in the preferred form of this invention, the frame 33 and its pocket 44 in the part 11 are so made as to have a tight or force t, and the pocket 45 in the part 12 is made to loosely fit around the frame 33. Hence,'when the parts are separated, the switch mechanism and frame cling to, and are carried away with, the part 11.

To rmly hold the frame 33 in place when the parts 11 and 12 are assembled, the top portions ,46 of the pocket 44 of the part 11, and the bottom portions 47 of the pocket 45 of the part 12 are made to embrace and securely hold in place the top and bottom portions vrespectively of the frame 33, see Fig. 5. c

It should be noted that the walls 48 between the channels 25 on the parts 1 1 and 12 and the pockets 44 and 45 wherein the switch mechanism is mounted, are uninterrupted and thus the switch mechanism is completely isolated from the conduit 26' for the through-wire 14.

However, the walls 49 at the opposite sides of the parts 11 and 12 are not .uninterrupted but are provided with cut-outs 50 which lead to channels the agitation of the air in the restricted chamber produced by movement of the blades .quickly fans out any air which maybe produced. Further, being closed at its ends 53, the chamber 52 prevents any wire in the channels 29 from coming in contact with the switch blades. Of course, the contacts 23 and 24 must enter the chamber 51 and do so through passages 54 in the parts 11 and 12 just large enough to permit the body of the contact to extend therethrough.

' Instead ofthe handle 39 being in the form of a mere protuberance extending outside the casing for digital engagement as is common in the art, the present invention provides an oblong finger-bar 5,5 set flatwise or edgewise in the casing and located in a chamber 56 provided in the part 1l. The finger-bar 55 is secured to the rocker 36 which may be molded in it if desired. The surfaces of the opposite ends of the fingerbar 55 slope downwardly toward each other and toward thel rocker bar to a medium point located vertically above the axle 37 of the rocker bar, and are so formed that, in one position of rest, about one half of the bar 55 lies substantially ush with that portion of the part 11 adjacent the chamber 56 through which it ex- Atiti tends, while the other part of the finger-bar protrudes substantially beyond the casing.

Thus, to operate the switch while it is held in the hand, the protruding portion of the iinger-bar 55 may be depressed by a squeezing action of the operators hand; or, the operators thumb may be placed in the depression between the two ends of the bar and rock to and fro to cause the switch to be moved from on and on positionand vice versa; or, the operators thumb may be` slid along the ush portion of the bar and in a straight line camming downof the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus'described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obL tain Letters Patent, isz- 1. A pendant or feed-through snap switch com'- prising a casing having two parts shaped to be grasped in the hand of the user and adapted to sandwich between them two wires of an extension cord; switch mechanism, clamped in operative position `solely by the two parts of the casing wherthe latter are secured together, and adapted to yielding-ly embrace one part of`the casing so as to remain therewith when' the two parts of the casing are separated; andlbinding posts on the other part of the casing to which the wire ends are adapted to be secured when the switch mechanism carrying part of. the casing is separated therefrom.

2. A pendant or feed-through switch vcomprising a casing shaped to be grasped in the hand of the user and divided to form two separable parts adapted to sandwich between them two wires of an extension cord, one of said parts positively carrying switch mechanism with it and the other of said parts positively carrying switch contacts vwith it when said parts are separated. l

3. A pendant cr feed-through snap switchl comprising a casing having two parts shaped to be grasped in the hand of the user and adapted to sandwich between them two wires of an extension cord; switch mechanism. clamped in operative position solely by the two parts ofthe casing when the latter are secured together and adapted to embrace one part of the casing so as to remain therewith when the two parts of the casing are separated to connect the switch to the cord; and contacts on the other part of the casingto which the wire ends are adapted to be secured when the switch mechanism carrying part of the casing is separated therefrom.

4. A pendant or feed-through snap switch comprising a casing shaped to be grasped in the hand of the user and divided longitudinally-to form two separable parts which sandwich between them two wires of an electric cord; and

switch mechanism mounted in the casing-centrally thereof and comprising a laterally located switch blade for controlling the circuit including 'said cordfthe two parts of the casing being each channeled longitudinally vat both sides of the.

-' centrally located switch mechanism, one' of said channels, when the two parts oi the casing are secured together, forming a passage for the through wire of said cord and the other forming a chamber in which the switch blade oscillates between positions of rest. l

5. A pendant or feed-through snap switch comprising a casing shaped to be grasped in the hand of the user and divided longitudinally to form two separable parts which sandwich between them two wires of an electric cord; and switch mechanism mounted in the casing centrally thereof and comprising a laterally located switch blade for controlling the circuit including said cord, the two parts of the casing being each channeled longitudinally at both sides of the centrally located switch mechanism, one of said channels,

when the two parts of the casing are secured together, forming a passage for the through wire of said cord and the other forming a chamber in which the switch blade oscillates between positions of rest, the passage for the through wire being completely closed to isolate the through wire romthat portion of the casing in which the switch mechanism is located.

6. A pendant or feed-through snap switch comprising a casing shaped to be grasped in the hand of the user and divided longitudinally to form two separable parts which sandwich between them two wires of lan electric cord; and switch" mechanism mounted in the casing centrally thereof and comprising a laterally-located switch blade for controlling the circuit including said cord,v the two parts of the casing being each channeled longitudinally at both sides of 'the centrally located switch mechanism, one of said channels, when the two parts of the casing are secured together, forming' a passage for the through wire of said cord and the other forming a chamber in'which the switch blade oscillates-between positions oi rest, and the channels inthe parts of the casing, which form the chamber for the switch blade, being closed at their ends so as to isolate the switch blade from the wirevpassages provided in the casing.

7. A pendant or feed-through snap switch comprising a casing shaped to be grasped in the hand of the user and divided longitudinally to form two separable parts which sandwich between them two wires of an electric cord; and switch mechanism mounted in the casing centrally thereof and comprising a laterally located switch blade for controlling the circuit including said cord, the two parts of the casing being each channeled longitudinallyat both sides of the centrally located switch mechanism, one 'of said channels, when\the two parts of the casing are secured together, forming a passage for thethrough wire of-said cord and the other forming a chamber in which the switch blade oscillates between positions of rest,

the passage for the through wire being complete-A ly closed to isolate the through wire from that portion of the casing in which the switch mechanism is located, and otherchannels in the parts of the casing, which form the chamber for the switch blade; being closed at their ends so as to isolate` the switch blade from the wire passages provided in the casing 8. A pendant or feed-through snap switch comprising a casing shaped to be grasped inthe hand of the user and dividedlongitudinally to form two separable parts which sandwich between them two wires of an electric cord; and switch mechanism mounted in the casing centrally thereof and comprising a laterally located switch blade for controlling the circuit-including said cord, the two parts of the casing being each channeled longitudinally at one side ofthe centrally located switch mechanism, said channels, when the two parts of the casing are secured together, forming a chamber in which the switch f blade oscillates between positions of rest.

9. A pendant or feed-through snap switch of the sandwich type comprising a casing shaped to be grasped in the hand of the user and divided to form two separable parts, one of said parts carrying switch contacts with it when said parts are separated; and switch mechanism including a frame removably mounted in the other of said parts but normally frictionally held therein so as to remain with its part of the casing when the parts are separated.

10. A pendant or feed-through snap switch comprising a casing shaped to be grasped in the hand of the user and divided longitudinally to form two separable parts which sandwich be-f tween them two wires of an electric cord: and switch mechanism mounted inthe casing centrally thereof and comprising a laterally located switch blade for controlling the circuit 1ncluding said cord, the two parts of the casing being each channeled longitudinally at both sides of the centrally located switch mechanism, one of said channels, when the two parts of the casing are secured together, forminga passage for the through wire of said cord and the other forming a chamber in which the switch blade oscillates between positions of rest, and; the channels in the parts of the casing, which form the chamber for the switch blade, being closed at their ends so as to isolate the switch blade from the wire passages provided in the casing.

11. A snap switch comprising a casing shaped to be grasped in the hand of a user and divided to form two separable parts and adapted tol sandwich between them two wires of an electric cord, said casing being open at both ends to permit the cord to enter the casing at one end and leaveV at the other end when the device is used as a feed-through switch; means for securing the two parts of the casing together; and a nial for closing one end of the casing when the device is used as a pendant switch at the end of a cord.

12. A snap switch comprising a casi'ng shaped to be grasped in the hand of a user and divided to form two separable parts and adapted to sandwich between them two wires of an electric cord, said casing being open at both ends to permit the cord to enter the casing at one end and leave at the other end when the device is used as a feed-through switch; means for securing the two parts of the casing together; a finial for closing one end of the casing when the device is used as a pendant switch at the end of a cord; and interlocking connections between the nial and the parts of the casing adapted to hold the fmial to the casing.

13. A snap switch comprising a casing shaped to be grapsed in the hand of a user and divided to form two separable parts and adapted to sandwich between them two wires of an electric cord, said casing being open' at both ends to permit the cord to enter the casing at one end and leave at the other end when the device is used as a feed-through switch; means for securing the" two parts of the casing together; a nial for closing one end of the casing when the device is used as a pendant switch at the end of a cord, said nial being adapted to be inserted between the two parts of the casing when the latter are secured together; and interlocking devices on the finial and casing for holding the nial to the casing when the parts of the casing are secured together.

' ARTHUR C. GAYNOR. 

